Electric lighting device



' May 17, 1938. H. A. DOUGLAS 2,117,759

ELECTRIC LIGHTING DEVICE Filed April 4, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet l y 1938 H. A. DOUGLAS 2,117,759

ELECTRIC LIGHTING DEVICE Filed April 4,1956 5 Sheets -Sheet 2 ATTORN-F-TE y 1938. H. A. DOUGLAS 2,117,759

ELECTRIC LIGHTING DEVICE Filed April 4, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 l m wing TOK M, JMXMWW ATToRmaqs Haring, A Dougla-fi Patented May 17, 1938 PATENT OFFICE ELECTRIC LIGHTING DEVICE Harry A. Douglas, Bronson, Mich, assignor to Kingston Products Corporation, a corporation of Indiana Application April 4, 1936, Serial No. 72,776

8 Claims.

My invention relates to electric lighting devices, and more particularly to electric lamp units comprising an incandescent electric lamp mounted in a reflector, as for example, in an automobile headlight, and the principal object of my invention is to provide a new and improved lighting device and unit of this type.

In the drawings accompanying this specification, and forming part of this application, I have shown, for purposes of illustration several forms which my invention may assume. In these drawmgs:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view, certain parts being fragmentarily shown, of one embodiment of my invention,

Figures 2 and 3 are front elevations of details,

Figure 4 is a front elevation of a holding means i or socket unit, forming part of the embodiment shown in Figure 1,

Figure 5 is a side elevation of the holding means shown in Figure 4,

Figure 6 is a section taken along the line G-6 of Figure 7, looking in the direction of the arrows,

Figure 7 is a side elevation of a lamp and 25 holding means, assembled, the lamp being fragmentarily shown,

Figure 8 is a sectional view of a lamp, taken on the line 6--5 of Figure 7, the holding means shown in the latter figure being omitted,

Figure 9 is a fragmentary front elevation of a mounting, or reflector, which is used in the embodiment of Figure 1,

Figure 10 is a section taken on the line |0-|0 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows,

Figure 11 is a fragmentary sectional view, enlarged, taken on the line I of Figure 10,1ooking in the direction of the arrows,

Figure 12 is a front elevation of another embodiment of a holding means, analogous to' the holding means of Figures {land 5, A

Figure 13 is a sectional front elevation of another embodiment of a lamp,

Figure 14 is a section taken along the line |4l4 of Figure 15, looking in the direction of the arrows,

Figure 15 is acs'ide elevation oi a lamp such as shownin Figure 13 and holding means such as shown'in Figure 12, assembled, the lamp being fragmentarily shown, Figure 16 is a frontelevation of an assembled lamp and holding means, such as shown in Fig: ure 15, assembled with a reflector such as shown in Flgure9, the lamp being shown in section on a line corresponding tothe line "-44 of Figure15,and

Figure 17 is a section, enlarged, taken along the line |l-|'| of Figure 16, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring to Figure 1, the embodiment of my invention here illustrated is shown as including 5 an incandescent electric lamp 20, adapted to be suitably connected to a mounting 2|, the mounting being in this instance a reflector fragmentarily shown. The lamp 20 is provided with a base 22, which in this instance includes laterally 10 extending positioning means 23 also forming part of the means for connecting the lamp to the reflector. The base 22 includes a shell 24, and the laterally extending portion of the base comprises a collar 25 surrounding the shell 24, and a radi- 15 ally extending flange 26 on the collar. The collar 25 may be fastened to the base 22 in any suitable manner, as by solder 21 (see Figure 8). The lamp flange 25 is adapted to be seated on the rear face of a flat portion 28 of the reflector 2|, 20 and a holding means 29, cooperating with the lamp flange 26, is provided for holding the lamp 20 assembled with the holding means 29 and with the reflector 2|, as will more fully appear. By the term rearwardly, or rear, is meant in a direction away from the light source of the lamp 29, frontwardly, and front, of course, having the opposite significance.

The holding means 29 comprises a shell 30, desirably of generally cylindrical form, which may 30 be seamless, and desirably formed of sheet metal. At its front end the shell 30 is provided with a generally annular end flange 3|, here shown as having projections, which carry a plurality or concentrically arranged unequally circumferentially spaced connector pins 32, 33, 34, desirably three, which may be hollow. These connector pins 32, 33, 34 are all identical, and therefore a detailed description of one of them will serve for all. Each connector pin is here shown as having a cylindrical shank 35, which is closed at its free end 36, and, before assembly in the holding means 29, is of uniform cross-section. At the front end the pins are provided with heads 3'! having a cylindrical portion 39, the cylindrical portion being joined to the shank 35 by a frustro-conical portion 39. The free end of the head 31 is here shown as provided with a rounded margin 40.

The shanks 35 of the pins 32, 33, 34 are snugly but slidably disposed through apertures 4| in a biasing means 42 of sheet metal. The biasing means 42 is shown in Figure 2, developed in a plane, as it appears before it is completely formed and assembled as a part of the holdingmeans 29. The biasing means 42 includes an annular part 43 having radially inwardly extending projections 44a, 45a, 46a, here shown as provided with narrowed free ends to form tongues 41, for cooperation with three rectangular apertures 48 here shown as disposed in three radial projections 49 on the generally annular flange 3|.

The biasing means 42 is provided with three frontwardly axially extending projections or detents 58, here shown as of generally arch-shaped radial cross-section and conveniently formed by making depressions 5| in the opposite face of the biasing means. The free end 52 of each detent 58 is struck or out free from the general plane of the annular portion 43, and this free end 52 thus projects a predetermined amount above the front face of the portion 43. These detents 58 are here shown as'concyclic with the apertures 4|, and spaced clockwise from these apertures a predetermined amount.

The projections 49 on the flange 3| are provided with apertures 53, here shown as in radial alinement with the apertures 48, adapted to snugly but slidably receive the shanks 35 of the connector pins 32, 33, 34. The set of apertures, 53, and the set of apertures 4| in the biasing means 42, are adapted to be alined with each other. In order to assemble the biasing means 42 with the flange 3|, the radially inwardly extending projections 44a, 45a, 46a, as shown in Figure 2, are bent'radially outwardly to form spring loops 44, 45, 46, and the tongues 41 are bent rearwardly in a generally axial direction.

The biasing means 42 is then so related to the flange 3| that the set of apertures 4| is in alinement with the set of apertures 53. The tongues 41 may then be inserted in the apertures 48. The connector pins 32, 33, 34 may then be passed through the alined sets of apertures 4| and 53. to the position shown in Figure 5, in which the small ends of the frusto-conical portions 39 are in abutment with the margins of the apertures 4| in the annular portion 43 of the biasing means, and the annular portion 43 has been moved somewhat toward the front face of the flange 3| to put the biasing means 42 under a predetermined stress. The free ends of the connector pins 32, 33, 34 are then transversely locally squeezed or swedged to form laterally extending projections 54 which are adapted to engage the rear face of the flange 3|, under the bias of the biasing means 42. The holding means 29 then has the appearance as shown in Figures 4 and 5.

The holding means 29 serves also to carry an insulating member 55, an outside diameter of which is approximately equal to the inside diameter of the shell 38, adapted to abut diametrically opposite segmental flanges 56 extending radially inwardly from the rear end of the shell 30. The insulating member 55 is further provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced radial projections, in this instance three, two of which 51, 58, may be seen in Figure 5, for example, and a third of which, 59, is located at the other side of the member 55, analogously to the projection 51. On opposite circumferential sides of the projection 58 are disposed two rearwardly extending projections 60, 6| on the shell 36. Immediately below the projections 51, 59, as viewed in Figure 5, the shell 38 is provided with the respective rearward projections 62, 63. The space between the projections 62, 63 is less than the space between the projections 6|), 6|. The projections 60, 6|, 62, 63, and the projections 51, 58, 59 may be arranged in any other suitable manner, so that the insulating member 55 and the shell 38 may be assembled in but one relative rotative relation. In order to hold the insulating member 55 to the shell 38, the projections 68, 6|, 62, 63 are provided with fingers 64, which may be clinched radially inwardly over the rear face of the insulating member 55.

The insulating member 55 is adapted to carry contacts 65, 66, these contacts being desirably formed as enlarged heads on shanks fitted over and swedged to the ends of conductors 61, 68 respectively. The conductors 61, 68 are disposed in sleeves 69, the sleeves being slidable within bushings 18, which are fixedly mounted, in any suitable manner, as by beading, through the insulating member 55. Springs 1| surround the sleeves 69 between the bushings and flanges 12 on the front ends of the sleeves, abutting the contacts 65, 66.

The contacts 65, 66 are adapted to make contact respectively with a pair of contacts 13, 14 on the base of the incandescent lamp 20. The contact 13, directly behind the contact 14 in Figure 1. is the contact which engages the spring pressed contact 65, visible in that figure. The provision of the plurality of contacts on the lamp base enables the use of a multiple filament lamp, the lamp being here shown as provided with two filaments 15, 16, one of which, 15, may desirably have its lighting center at some predetermined point with respect to thereflector, as for example the focus, and the other of which, 16, may be displaced from the filament and :may be used for providing dim light or so-called tilted light. The filaments 15, 16 have their terminals connected in a well known manner to the lamp base .22 and to the contacts 13, 14 on the lamp base. The passage of current to either one or both of the filaments 15, 16 may be controlled in any suitable manner by switching means (not shown) interposed in the conductors 61, 68.

Thelamp flange 26, as shown in Figure 8, may be of circular outline, and, for cooperation with the connector pins 32, 33, 34, the lamp flange is provided with a plurality of compound apertures 11, 18. 19 unequally spaced to correspond to the unequal spacing of the connector pins. Each compound aperture comprises a set of two apertures, and since all of the apertures are identical, but one of them will be described. The aperture 18, for example, comprises a larger or entrance .portion 88, generally circular and adapted to pass a head 31 of a. connector pin, and a. smaller or seat portion 8| extending circumierentially counterclockwise (as viewed in Figure 8) from the entrance portion 80 and havingan arcuate end of such size as to snugly fit a shank 35 of a connector pin. Here shown as concyclic with and circumferentially between the compound apertures 11, 18, 19, the lamp flange 26 is provided with desirably three axially frontwardly extending projections 82, conveniently formed by forming depressions 83 in the rear face of the flange.

For cooperation with the connector pins 32, 33, 34 the flat portion 28 of the reflector is provided with three circumferentially spaced compound apertures 84, 85, 86, unequally spaced to correspond to the unequal spacing of the connector pins. The compound apertures 84, 85, 86 are disposed concentric with respect to a central aperture 95 in the flat portion '28, this aperture being large enough to pass the bulb of the lamp 20. Each compound aperture 84, 85,

86 comprises an arcuate smaller or seat portion 81, and an arcuate larger or entrance portion 88, circumferentially spaced clockwise'(as viewed in Figure 9) from the seat portion 81, the seat and entrance aperture portions being joined by a connecting portion 89 tapering from the entrance portion 88 to the seat portion 81. The margins of the connecting portion 89 are, in this instance, arcuate and generally tangent to the entrance portion 88, while the junction between the connecting portion 89 and the seat portion 81 is narrower than the diameter of the circle defined by the seat portion, thus forming humps 90 at the junction.

The procedure in assembling the lamp 20 with the holding means 29 is as follows. The heads 31 of the connector pins 32, 33, 34 are brought into registry with the entrance portions 88 of the compound apertures TI, 18, 19 in the lamp flange 26 and the heads and flange are moved axially with respect to each other, against the bias of the contacts 65, 66, so that the heads 31 pass through the entrance portions 80, whereupon the rear face of the flange 26 comes into abutment with the front face of the annular portion 43 of the biasing means. slightly stressed and the holding means 29 and the lamp 20 are now turned about their axes in such direction relatively to each other that the small ends of the frustro-conical portions 39 of the connector pins 32, 33, 34 will become seated on the margins of the seats 8| of the compound apertures '11, 18, I9, whereupon the detents 50 will snap frontwardly'off of the trailing margins of the entrance portions 80. The lamp 20 and holding means 29 are now completely assembled and have the position shown in Figures 6 and 7.

The assembled lamp, 20, and holding means, 29, now constitute a unit which is adapted to be in turn assembled with the reflector 2| as follows. The unitary lamp and holding means, shown assembled as a unit in Figures 6 and 7, are brought into axial alinement with the apertures 95 in the reflector 2|, with the bulb of the lamp 2|] facing the rear of the reflector, the bulb of the lamp is passed through the reflector aperture 95, and the unit is rotationally so positioned that the heads 31 of the connector pins 32,

33, 34 are in registry with the entrance portions 88 of the compoundapertures 84, 85, 86 of the reflector. The unitary lamp and holding means are then moved frontwardly until the axial projections 82 of the lamp flange 26 engage the rear face of the flat portion 28 of the reflector. The unitary lamp and holding means are then turned clockwise, as viewed from the rear of the reflector, the frustro-conical portions 39 of the connector pins 32, 33, 34 thereby engaging the margins of the tapered portions 89 of the compound apertures 84, 85, 86. Further clockwise movement causes the connector pins 32, 33, 34 to be pulled frontwardly, by reason of the cam action as between the frustro-conical portions 39 and the tapered aperture portions 89, until the frustro-conical portions pass the humps 90 and snap into the seat portions 81. The position of the parts is then as shown in Figures 1, 10, and 11.

It will be evident that the biasing means 42 biases the shell 30 and the connector pins 32; 33, 3,4 rearwardly and consequently the heads 31 are pressed into the seats 81, while at the same time the biasing means 42 presses the flange 26 frontwardly thereby pressing the axial projections 82 The biasing means 42 is.

firmly against the flat portion 28 of the re- Since the lamp flange 26 is accurately pre-positioned with respect to its distance from the filaments 15, 16, and the direction of the plane of the flange 26 is pre-positioned with respect to the axis of the lamp 20, and furthermore,

since the seats 81, in cooperation with the connector pins 32, 33, 34 accurately determine the position of the lamp 20 about its axis with respect to the reflector 2|, the filament l5, and also the auxiliary filament 16, will be positioned at the desired places with respect to the reflector.

The flange 26 may be pre-positioned by assembling the lamp with the positioning means 23 and placing the positioning means 23 on a standard with the shell 24 within the collar 25 and then adjusting the lamp until the lighting center of the desired filament thereof is in a predetermined position, whereupon the collar 25 is soldered to the shell 24. The position of other filaments of the lamp may be likewise simultaneously predetermined.

It will be noted that, since the axial projections 82 are unequally circumferentially spaced, and the spring loops 44, 45, 46 are similarly unequally spaced, the projections 82 might be pressed against the flat portion 28 of the reflector with undesirably unequal force if the spring loops were of equal strength. This inequality may desirably be equalized making the spring loops 45, 46 each of less width, and therefore of less strength, than that of the spring loop 44.

When it is desired to disconnect a lamp 20 from the reflector 2|, the lamp 20 and holding means 29 are turned as a unit with respect to the reflector until the heads 3'! are brought into registry with the entrance apertures 88, whereupon the lamp 20 and holding means 29 may be removed as unit by axial movement with respect to the reflector.

The lamp 20 may be removed from the holding means 29 by first disengaging the detents 5D and then turning the lamp about its axis in a counter clockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 6, until the heads 31 register with the entrance por tions 88, thereby permitting disengagement of the lamp, as will be evident.

Referring now to the embodiment shown in Figures 12 through 17. In this embodiment a holding means 29b includes a shell 30b having a flange 3|b which carries connecter pins 32b, 33b, 34b. The shell 38b is also shown as carrying an insulating member 55b, which in turn carries contacts 65b, 66b connected to conductors 61b,

68b. The foregoing parts are constructed and arranged exactly as are the corresponding parts of the holding means 29 of the embodiment of Figure 1. The holding means 29b also includes a biasing means 42b which is constructed and arranged identically with the biasing means 42 with the exception that the annular portion 43b of the biasing means 42b is provided with a diilerent form of frontwardly extending projections or detents, 50b. The detents 50b may be of the same form as the detents 5|] of the embodiment of Figure 1, but arehere shown as of generally domeshape, conveniently formed by making indentations 5|b in the rear face of the annular portion 43b. Moreover, instead of the detents 59b being spaced clockwise from apertures 4| b (through which the shanks 35b of the connector pins 32b, 33b, 345 are disposed; see Figure 17) they are disposed on the counter clockwise side of the apertures 4|b.

Cooperable with the holding means 291; is a lamp 201) which, with the exception of the compound apertures in its flange 26b, is identical with the lamp 20 of the embodiment of Figure 1. The flange 26b has compound apertures 11b, 18b, 10b, each aperture comprising a seat portion Bib and an entrance portion 801:. These compound apertures are designed for cooperation with the connector pins 32b, 33b, bin a manner similar to that already described in connection with the embodiment of Figure 1, with the exception that the seat portions 8": or these compound apertures extend, circumferentially from the respective margins of the entrance portions in a clockwise direction, instead of in a counterclockwise direction as is the case with the compoundapertures in the lamp flange 26.

The lamp 20b maybe assembled with the holding means 29b in the manner already described in connection with the lamp 20 and holding means 29, with the exception that in assembling the flange 26b with the heads 31!; of the connector pins, the flange 26b is turned in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed. in Figure 13, after the entrance portions 80b of the compound apertures 11b, 18b, 19b have been passed over the heads 31b of the connector pins 32b, 33b, 34b. The assembled lamp and holding means then has the appearance as shown in front elevation in Figure 14, and in side elevation in Figure 15, in which the detents'50b have snapped frontwardly ofi of the trailing margins of the entrance portions 80b. The shanks 35b of the connector pins are, in this position of the parts, snugly positioned in the seat portions MD, and the small ends of the frustro-conical portions 391) of the connector pins are seated on the margins of the seat portions 8|b, similarly to the mode of assembly and operation, already described in connection with the embodiment of Figure 1, and particularly in connection with Figures 6, 7, and 8.

The assembled lamp and holding means, as shown in Figures 14 and 15 may now be assembled with a reflector 2lb. The reflector 2lb is here shown as identical with the reflector 2|, shown in detail in Figure 9, and is accordingly provided with compound apertures 84b, b, 86b, identical withthe apertures 84, 85, 86, though that is not essential. As in the case of the embodiment of Figure L the assembled lamp and holding means may be assembledwith the reflector 2lb by passing the bulb of the lamp 201), at the rear of the reflector, through the reflector aperture b, theheads 31b of the connector pins 32b, 33b, 34b being passed through the entrance portions of thecompound apertures 84b, 85b, 86b,

and then the assembled lamp and holding means rotated in a clockwise direction, as viewed from the rear of the reflector, until the frustro-conical portions 89b snap into theseat portions 81b of the compound apertures, as already described in connection with the embodiment of Figure 1, the parts then assuming the position shown in Figures 16 and 17. It will be evident from the foregoing that the compound apertures 84b, 85b, flibcould be so formed that the entrance portions would be on the counterclockwise side 01' the seat portions 8111. Furthermore, it will be clear that what has been stated in connection with the embodiment of Figures 1 through 11 with regard to the accurate positioning of the lamp with respect to the parts associated and assembled therewith also applies to the embodiment of Figures 12 through 1'7.

From the foregoing it will be apparent to those of my invention provide new and improved electric lighting devices and units, readily and conveniently constructed and assembled, and accordlngly, each accomplishes the principal object of my invention. On the other hand, it also riflcing all of the advantages thereof, and that accordingly, the disclosure herein is illustrative only, and my invention is not limited thereto.

I claim:

1. In combination: an incandescent electric lamp having a base provided with a lateral extension; said extension having a plurality of circumferentially spaced bayonet apertures, said apertures including larger portions and smaller recess portions extending circumferentially into corresponding margins of said larger portions, said recess portions having radially outer and inner margins of continuous contour form; a holding unit having headed connector portions having shanks disposed through the circumferential ends of said recess portions; said holding unit including detent means, cooperable with a margin of at least one of said larger portions, so constructed and arranged that said lamp and said holding unit are releasably held against relative rotation; and a mounting, abutted by said lateral extension; having apertures constructed and arranged to make bayonet connection with said headed connector portions.

2. In combination: an incandescent electric lamp having a lateral extension unitary with the base of said lamp; said lamp being provided with contact means; said lamp extension having a' plurality of circumferentially spaced apertures; holding means including connector'portions extending through said apertures, and including contact means cooperable with said lamp contact means, said holding means being constructed and arranged to hold said contact means in' tension being provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced apertures, said connecting means comprising also a plurality of connector portions, on said holding means, extending through said apertures; said connecting means being so constructed and arranged that said connected lamp and holdingmeans constitute a unit rotatable about the axis of said lamp with respect to said mounting; and said mounting means and said unit including connecting means,

comprising said connector portions, so constructed and arranged that said unit is detachablyconnected to said mounting through the intermediation of said connector portions.

4. In combination: a mounting; an incandescent electric lamp having a base provided with a lateral extension abutting said mounting at one side of said mounting and having its filament disposed at the other side thereof; said lateral extension having a plurality of apertures; holding means, including connector portions extending through said apertures, constructed and arranged to hold said lateral extension in abutment with said mounting through the intermediation of said connector portions; said lateral extension and said holding means and said mounting being so constructed and arranged that said lamp is -first connectable to said holding means by cooperative engagement of said connector portions with said apertures and then said connected lamp and holding means are connectable as a unit to said mounting.

5. In combination: an incandescent electric lamp having a base; mounting means for said lamp, having an aperture through which the bulb of said lamp is insertable; holding means for holding said lamp assembled with said mounting means; said lamp and said holding means including cooperating connecting means comprising a lateral extension on and unitary with said base, said lateral extension being provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced apertures, said connecting means comprising also a plurality of connector portions, on said holding means, extending through said apertures; said connecting means being so constructed and ar ranged that said connected lamp and holding means constitute a unit rotatable about the axis of said lamp with respect to said mounting; said lateral extension abutting that side of said mounting means opposite from the side facing the bulb of said lamp; and said mounting means and said connector portions being so constructed and arranged that said unit is detachably con' nected to said mounting.

G. In combination: an incandescent electric lamp having a base; mounting means for said lamp; holding means for holding said lampassembled with said mounting means; said lamp and said holding means including cooperating connecting means comprising a lateral extension on and unitary with said base, said lateral extension being provided with a plurality of circumierentially spaced apertures, said connecting means comprising also a plurality of connector portions, on said holding means, extending through said apertures; said connecting means being so constructed and arranged that said con- 'nected lamp and holding means constitute a unit.

rotatable about the axis of said lamp with respect to said mounting; and said mounting means and said unit including bayonet connection means, said bayonet connection means comprising a plurality of circumferentially spaced apertures in said mounting means with which said connector portions are cooperable and being so constructed and arranged that said unit is detachably connected to said mounting means, through the intermediation of said connector portions and said bayonet apertures, by rotation of said unit about the axis of said lamp relatively to said mounting means.

7. In combination: an incandescent electric lamp having a base; mounting means for said lamp, having an aperture through which the bulb of said lamp is insertable; holding means for holding said lamp assembled with said mounting means; said lamp and said holdingmeans including cooperating connecting means comprising a lateral extension on and unitary with said base, said lateral extension being provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced apertures, said connecting means comprising also a plurality of connector portions, on said holding means, extending through said apertures; said connecting means being so constructed and arranged that said connected lamp and holding means constitute a unit rotatable about the axis of said lamp with respect to said mounting; said lateral extension abutting that side of said mounting means opposite from the side facing the bulb 01 said lamp; and said mounting means and said unit including bayonet connection means, said bayonet connection means comprising a plurality of circumferentially spaced apertures in said mounting means with which said connector portions are cooperable and being so constructed and arranged that said unit is detachably connected to said mounting means, through the intermediation of said connector portions and said bayonet apertures, by rotation of said unit about the axis of said lamp relatively to said mounting means.

8. In combination: a mounting; an incandescent lamp having a bulb disposed at one side of said mounting; said bulb being provided with a basehaving a lateral extension in abutment with said mounting at the other side of said mounting;

said mountin having an aperture of sufllcient size to permit passage of said bulb, and said lateral extension abutting said 'mounting radially outside of said aperture; said lateral extension having a plurality of apertures and said mounting having a plurality of apertures registering with said apertures in said lateral extension; and holding means, including connector portions extending through said registering apertures, constructed and arranged to hold said lateral extension in abutment with said mounting.

HARRY A. DOUGLEB. 

